Co brings up Joel's 'disqualification,' Villanueva says, 'liars go to hell'

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co on Thursday took issue with Senator Joel Villanueva's reaction to a House leader who asked senators to declare whether or not they were in favor of Charter change (Cha-cha).

House Majority Leader Zamboanga City Rep. Mannix Dalipe on Tuesday issued the challenge, to which Villanueva said, "Who is he?"

The Senate Majority Leader's remark didn't sit well with Co, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.

"Unang-una, si Senator Joel ho ay dati naman siyang party-list and masyado ho atang mayabang ang ating senador at alam naman ho natin kung sino siya," Co said on radio.

(Senator Joel is a party-list congressman. It seems he is too arrogant when we know who he is.)

Co said Villanueva had been perpetually disqualified by the Ombudsman in a case that the latter resolved.

"Pero mukhang na-apela ho niya," Co said.

(But it seems he was able to appeal.)

In response, Villanueva said Co was lying to cover up the role House members allegedly played in people's initiative signature campaign for Cha-cha.

“Liars go to hell. Lahat iimbentuhin kapag desperadong mapagtakpan ang mabaho at pekeng PI nila,” Villanueva said.

(Liars go to hell. They'd make up things because they're so desperate to cover up their stinking fake PI.)

The Senate subcommittee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes led by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara has already started its deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 which seeks to amend the economic provisions of the charter. 

RBH 6 was filed by Angara, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda after the Senate and the House leadership made an agreement before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wherein the Upper House will lead the deliberations on the amendments to the 1987 Constitution as long as the PI, which is believed to be supported by congressmen, including Speaker Martin Romualdez, will be halted. 

But the alleged continuous signature gathering for the PI enraged the senators and resulted in a word war between members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. —NB, GMA Integrated News